The famous running of the bulls event in Pamplona, northern Spain, kicked off on Saturday, despite protests from animal rights activists. The bull runs are part of the nine-day San Fermín Festival held in the city at the beginning of July each year. The festival officially kicked off at midday with the traditional Chupinazo, the firing of a small rocket from the town hall balcony, in front of thousands of spectators. The first of several bull runs will be held from Sunday. The festival is dedicated to Pamplona’s city saint San Fermín and dates back to the end of the 16th century. While the San…